The Hunter

[Isolde]

Diane

I let him hold me. I needed to borrow his strength right now as I felt on the edge of breaking down. I looked up at him and said,"That explain what I saw. I saw them being killed. I was that killer, I felt the thrill of spilling their blood and when I looked....gods, when I looked in the mirror....it was my face...MINE...that stared back at me. I will never forget it."

Closing my eyes, I whispered,"What is happening to me? Am I losing my mind?"

 

[Celestiale]

I awoke to the sound of Diane's cries and jumped up, hitting my knee on a bedpost as I stumbled about in the unfamiliar bedroom. I finally made my way out into the lighted hallway, but my balance was still off as I rubbed furiously at my eyes. The cries had stopped by the time I had reached Diane's bedroom, and I peeked in to make sure that everything was alright...

There they sat, his arms about her...her head resting against his bare chest...

I felt my mouth open, but no words would come to my lips. Quickly I turned away and slowly made my way down the stairs and out into the chilly night.

 

[Angelus]

"I don't think that you are losing your mind but I can't say what the explanation for what you saw is either. It is a mystery to me but I know that you didn't kill them. You loved them more than life itself and you wouldn't do anything to hurt them."

I held her closer and tried to comfort her as I knew that she needed it. She had just been through a lot and I had to do anything to help her get through it.

 

[Celestiale]

I made my way through the night, the light of the full moon guiding my path. My father would be furious and I did not know what I was going to tell him. I felt uneasy and unsure as I envisioned the two of them together again, eventhough deep in my heart, I knew it was simply a loving friendship.

The walk home helped to clear my head, and I made a vow to myself not to let my feelings as Alexis interfere with the lives of Thomas and Diane. Diane had so much to overcome still, and her training would have to take precedence over the longings and desires of an 18 year old.

I snuck in through the back of the manor, trying to keep as quiet as possible while making my way up to my room.

 

[Angelus]

I stopped holding Diane and looked around, knowing instantly that something was wrong. I got up off the bed and walked to the hallway and saw that the door to my room was open and rushed over to it then over to the bed and saw that it was empty.

I swore to myself then and rushed out of the room just to hear Diane say, "What is the matter?"

"It is Samantha... she has run off and I think that she saw up and thinks that we are back together."

"Oh god no... I am so sorry," Diane said.

After I got dressed I grabbed my horse who got angry at me because I woke him up and rode like the wind towards Samantha's home. When I got to her place I walked around the back and tried the door, finding it unlocked so I quietly went in and up the main stairs then looked through the rooms until I saw Samantha laying on her bed.

I walked slowly over her bed and placed one hand over her mouth which caused her eyes to open. She looked at me and started to say something but I whispered, "Please... just listen to me. I know what you saw but I have to say that there is nothing going on between Diane and myself. Hell, I even snuck into your home so I could tell you- does that say nothing for how much I love you."

I then took my hand away from her mouth.

 

[Celestiale]

I shook his hand from my mouth, a look of annoyance plastered upon my face. "Do you have any idea what my father will do if he finds you here??"

He grinned and whispered, "It's not like he can kill me..."

I softened and hid a small smile, suddenly all too aware that I had the object of my desires inside my most private of chambers. I gazed softly at Thomas, reaching up to caress his rough cheek, and spoke softly... "I know that there is nothing going on between Diane and yourself. I did not leave thinking that the two of you were secret lovers." I continued, "I left because she needs you more than I do right now..."

I looked up into his eyes, hoping that he understood. It was so hard for me not to drift away into their depths. I longed to kiss him as Alexis once had, but held back not wanting to send mixed messages to him. Diane's life was in danger, what right did I have to take Thomas away from her?

He turned away and I could see his shoulder's shaking slightly. When he turned to face me again, he was smiling widely, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

"I have waited lifetimes to find you, Samantha, and I am not about to let anything stop me from loving you..."

His hand cupped my chin, drawing me ever so slowly closer to him. His lips were full and scorching as he touched them to mine for the first time in decades. I had never kissed a man as Samantha, yet my body remembered the intricate workings of him as I tasted him again for the first time. I stole his breath as my tongue entwined with his, playful and demanding. I found myself climbing out from beneath my covers, urging him fully onto my bed...

 

[Angelus]

I slowly got onto the bed and looked up at Samantha as she sat down on top of me and leaned down, kissing me once again. While we were kissing I knew that this was meant to be- we were meant to be here and nothing was ever going to pull us apart again. When we stopped kissing I looked up at her and said, "I love you Samantha. I always have and always will as you have come to mean more to me than my life itself."

She smiled at me and said, "I love you Thomas. I think that I always have as there has been no other person that I think of."

She leaned down again and began kissing me as my hands moved down to her ass which I began to caress, making her gasp.

 

[Celestiale]

scratch that

[Edited by Celestiale on 02-09-2001 at 06:37 PM]

 

[Isolde]

Marci

I smiled a cruel smile as I saw him going into the house. I slipped into the shadows to wait. I had always known that he would slip up one day. Emotions did that to you. I had trained my whole life to eliminate those types of weaknesses from my life.

I knew I would have a long wait but I was an immortal...I had plenty of time. Besides, it gave me time to plan. I knew the basics of my plan...I had been preparing for it for a long time. I had dressed up as I had seen Diane do-no taste in clothes that woman. I had done up my hair like her and taken pains to memorize her mannerisms. I could safely say that I would be able to fool anyone-even Thomas.

All I had to do now was wait until Thomas was done with his lady fair and then sneak in to the house myself-kill the woman, make sure the father saw me and let the rest take its natural course. Thomas would hear about it-figure Diane was the one who killed the woman and then those two would be back at each other's throat. I already planned on taking care of Stryfe later on after the woman. He would let me in thinking I was his long lost love and then that would be the end of him.

Once Diane was dead at Thomas' hands, he would be easy prey in his misery at losing the girl and Diane in so short of a time. I had to keep myself from laughing out loud. The whole set up was too perfect. If only they knew what was really going on. Like I said, emotions were weaknesses that the strongest of us could not afford.

 

[Isolde]

Diane

OOC: Sorry for manipulating Roger but I need someone to see that it isnt Diane when Thomas and Marci clash as I am sure they will.

IC: When Thomas left, I sat on the bed, my arms wrapped around my knees-misery showing on my face. I could not believe what I had seen in my own mind. I still could not make sense of it. I felt as if I was in a limbo not knowing what was real and what was false.

Suddenly I heard a voice at my door and looked up. A man stood there looking in at me. It took a moment for my mind to make sense of who it was and then I remembered-Roger.

"Where is Thomas," He said, looking around a bit puzzled.

"I assume he went after the girl," I said in a hollow, haunted voice.

He looked at me again, his puzzlement deepening. "Whats wrong? I heard screaming and all of a sudden Thomas is out chasing women in the middle of the night?"

I looked away from him and shook my head. "Nothing...nothing is wrong. She got the wrong impression about Thomas and I and left for home. He went to straighten things out. Now, if you dont mind, I would like to be alone."

 

[Celestiale]

I smiled warmly, remembering the adoring look upon his face as he blew me a kiss goodbye from the garden outside my home. The night had been wonderous and I glowed radiantly as I thought of all the places he had taken me, the heights of pure bliss...my soul was forever changed. I crept back into bed, pulling the cover's over me and fell into a dream-filled sleep.

 

[Isolde]

Marci

I chuckled silently as I headed up the stairs to the girl's room. This was just too easy. My plan was unfolding exactly as I wanted it to and I was allowing myself to gloat a bit.

I got into her room without incident and was soon standing over her bed, watching her sleep. "How sweet," I thought to myself,"Too bad we have to wake her up...but oh, well." With that, I grabbed the woman's hair and used it to pull her head up sharply as I placed my sword against her neck.

I smiled as she took in my features and her eyes widened with shock and fear. "Hello, darlin'," I hissed at her,"You didnt really think I wasnt going to take revenge for what Thomas did to me, did you? What a foolish little girl. Now, why dont you just give me a nice loud scream to wake up daddy so he can join the fun? I want him to see you get your throat cut while he stands there helpless to do anything."

I pressed the sword deeper into her throat and smiled in satisfaction as I saw a thin line of crimson appear at below her windpipe. She looked at me and opened her mouth as if to scream and then her eyes darted behind me and I felt it. Immortal! I let the woman go just as a sword swished by where I had been moments before. I turned as I ducked and saw Thomas standing there in a protective stance over his little lady. Damn! He must have sensed me coming in the house and followed, knowing something was wrong.

Well, I could still salvage this. I went into my best Diane impression as I snarled at him. "Did you really think I would buy that line about you not killing my family? How stupid do I look? Now I will get revenge and take away what you love so much."

I made a downward swing with my sword, aimed at the girl but he caught my sword just inches before it bit into her flesh and turned it back. I could see the fury on his face and the look of betrayal. I sneered at him and said,"Well, looks like I will have to plan this for another time. But mark my words...I will spill her blood. Then lets see how long it takes you to find her next time!"

Without waiting for a reply from him, I turned and headed for the window. Scurrying down the tree that was outside of her window, I made it to the ground and faded into the shadows...disappearing from sight.

[Edited by Isolde on 02-10-2001 at 04:56 PM]

 

[Angelus]

I ran to the window and knew that I wouldn't see anything. I couldn't believe that Diane had just tried to murder Samantha and after I thought that she had changed. I slid my sword back into my sheath and walked over to where Samantha still sat and wrapped my arms around her then grabbed a cloth, placing it to her throat while I looked into her eyes. I turned and looked into her eyes before saying, "I will get her for this."

I lay her back on her bed and then made a noise so as to wake someone up before I ran and dived out the window, racing down the tree. I ran over to where my horse stood and jumped onto him then guided him to my home, determined to kill Diane.

 

[Isolde]

Diane

Roger had no sooner left and shut the door behind him when I was again assulted with visions but not of the past. I had the distinct impression that is was something that was happening at that moment. I fell off of the bed and onto my knees on the floor because the visions were so strong.

They were impressions, really, I could not make anything out clearly. I saw Samantha's face and it was filled with fear and then flashes of light like moonlight on steel and Thomas' face came into view. The look on his face was frightening. It contained anger and...dissapointment? I could not readily tell. And then the visions were gone and I slumped forward.

When I again lifted my head, I caught the sight of Thomas standing in my doorway, his face a mask of rage just as I had seen in my vision and his sword unsheathed and ready for battle. I looked up at him with puzzlement in my eyes and then they widened as he advanced on me and I realized that he ment to kill me.

 

[Angelus]

I walked forward and looked at Diane who was lying on the bed and held my sword so tight that my knuckles were white on the hilt. I don't know how she had done it but she had gone from Samantha's home and beaten my horse to get here before I had.

"Get up and get your sword- I don't want to kill you when you are unarmed."

I watched her closely, my mind travelling back to the sight of her standing over Samantha- a dagger at her throat. She slid her sword from her sheath and walked towards me, a confused look on her face but before she could say anything I moved forward and cut down at her but she brought her own sword and blocked it.

I looked at her and said, "Why- why did you do it."

She began to say something but before she could I knocked her back and went to cut down at her but before I could someone slammed into me from behind and I flew to the floor then heard Roger's voice, "What the hell do you think you are doing man!"

 

[Isolde]

Diane

I lay there on the floor looking up at the ceiling wondering what in the hell was going on. First I am assulted by visions than by Thomas. I couldnt seem to put the picture together so that it made sense.

I rolled over onto my elbow and looked to where Thomas was laying, Roger over him and said,"I dont understand. What is going on? What is it that I did to you so that you want to kill me? If Samantha is worried about us just tell me and I will leave-you dont have to remove my head!"

Thomas looked at me with a look of pure hate and spate out,"Dont play innocent with me, Diane. I saw you-you tried to kill her!"

My eyes went wide as I looked at him. Tried to kill her? He saw me try to kill her? My mind would not grasp what he was saying and I lay back down on the floor desperatly trying to think things through. The visions that I had...could they have anything to do with this? Somehow these pieces all fit together but I just couldnt see exactly how.

 

[Angelus]

Roger looked down at me, my sword in his hand and said, "What are you talking about. She has been here the whole time."

I looked up at him and said, "Do not tell me that you are a part of this Roger. If so then I will kill you to."

Roger looked at me as if I had just spat on him and exclaimed, "You stupid young fool. I could kill you where you lay for that but I am your friend and I would not lie to you. When I say that Diane has been here all night then she has been here all night."

I looked over at Diane and saw the look on her face and knew that she could have killed me at any time that she had wanted to but she hadn't and I instantly felt like a fool. What the hell had I just done, how close had I come to almost killing a person that had come to me for help.

 

[Isolde]

Diane

All of a sudden I felt very claustrophobic. I scrambled up to my knees and then my feet. Sheathing my sword, I left the room and stumbled down the stairs and outside into the cool night air. Taking big gulps of fresh air, I tried to sort out what had happened that night.

I felt as if I must be losing my mind. First I see myself as the killer of my family and then Thomas sees me trying to murder Samantha. Memories of the visions spun in my head and I almost felt physically sick.

I started walking forward, not knowing where I was going and not caring either. I had to get out of here. It was a big mistake thinking that Thomas and I could trust one another after all that had passed between us.

After a time it occured to me where I was headed-I was going back to Stryfe. I did not even question why but I kept heading that way. Soon I came to his home-our home. I hesitated a moment before opening the door and when I did a powerful smell hit me. I had smelt it before-it was the smell of blood.

I knew what I would see even before I stumbled upon Stryfe's headless body but for some reason I had to see for myself. Moments later, I was back outside and kneeling down in the grass getting sick from the sight I had just beheld. The world had gone crazy and I didnt know how to make it stop.

 

[Celestiale]

It seemed as if the entire household had found their way to my room, as well as our family doctor whom my papa had sent for after finding me clutching at my throat with a bloody cloth. I was finally resting, the servants ushered away, when my father took a seat at my bedside.

"Rest now my child." he began, "I promise you that I will get to the bottom of this."

He smiled and touched my face gently before getting up to go. "Miss Trimble will be staying in your sitting room, and I will have Garret standing outside your door."

I sighed softly as he left. I knew that there was no way that I could explain what had happened. I had made my promise to Thomas and could not tell my father the truth about any of it. My thought's drifted to Diane again, I had never seen such complete and total evil in my entire life. She had fooled me completely, and I knew that Thomas would not let her live after what she had attempted to do. Still, I could not help but tremble in fear as her last few words echoed through my mind...

"Well, looks like I will have to plan this for another time. But mark my words...I will spill her blood. Then lets see how long it takes you to find her next time!"

 

[Isolde]

Marci

I sat back in the chair in my flat, smoking a cigarette and thinking back on how the night had went. It had not been fully successful. Thomas' woman still lived but I could take care of that with no problem, after all she was only human.

Thomas had probably killed Diane by now. I had seen the look on his face before I left and I knew that he was going to go after her and what could she say? She had no proof that she had not been in Samantha's room so she wasnt going to be able to convince him of anything-even if he took the time to listen.

That left Thomas because I had killed Stryfe as soon as I had left the woman's house. He was the easiest of all-the fool. He had opened the door without hesitation once he thought it was his long lost love. He had been so worried about her being killed by Thomas. If he had known where to look, he would have gone after him himself.

Waiting til Stryfe was off guard, I had easily dispatched him and then went home. The first thing I had done was to burn the blood covered clothes in the fireplace and then roll a cigarette and relax.

I was a bit surprised. I knew that Diane and I had somewhat of a connection. I had gotten flashes of memories that could only be hers and I knew she had syphoned some of mine. I had even tried to send her some of the worst ones to see what would happen. I could handle the 'visions' as I was aware of her and our relationship where it had to be driving her crazy wondering where they were coming from.

When she died, I figured that I would be aware of it somehow through that connection but I felt nothing. Oh, well...I was too sure that Thomas would not fail me in that respect and I was not worried about it.

Getting up off the chair, I streatched and headed for my bed. A good nights sleep would put me in even a better mood and I could plan the deaths of the two remaining people in the light of a new day.

[Edited by Isolde on 02-11-2001 at 12:44 AM]

 

[Isolde]

Diane

I heard footsteps behind me and quickly got to my feet, slipping around the side of the house. Peeking around the corner, I saw what passed for the local constables and I made sure that I could not be seen.

I could hear them talking though.'

"So, do you have any witnesses?"

"The woman who summoned us said her husband saw his girlfriend leave the house right after the sounds of the struggle. Said she was covered in blood and carrying a sword. Also said that she had the oddest look on her face. Described it as one of pure evil."

I swallowed hard. Stryfe and I had lived here for a long time and many of the townspeople knew us on sight. One of them had evidently seen what had happened and alerted the law to the situation.

The men who had approached the house, went inside and then I heard the door open hastily and the sound of someone retching. I could sympathize with him as I had been in the same situation myself just a few minutes ago.

Then a voice coming back out. "I tell you, I have never seen anything like that. You would think she was trying to paint the house with his blood. Okay, I want a full scale search of the area. I want her brought in. If she did this than I dont want her to get ahold of anyone else."

My head was reeling as I tried to quietly disappear into the woods. Making it into the shadows of the trees, I looked back at what had once been my home and then headed out to circle around and towards Thomas' house. I had no where else to go and I needed some answers.

It was on my way to his house that I was again assulted by the visions. This time they were of Stryfe. I saw him open the door part way and look out. I then saw the smile of greeting on my face and his lips forms words. I could make out one-my name: Diane.

He walked into the house next, his back turned and all of a sudden there was the flash of steel and Stryfe...NO! I could not take any more of the vision and I fell to my knees trying not to heave the contents of my stomach again. I needed to be quiet...or else I would be found out.

I rose to my feet again and walked from the woods. I could see Thomas' house clearly from where I was and I ran/stumbled forward towards the welcoming light. Pushing my way into the door, I went to where I heard voices-the study. Thomas and Roger were there and I lept forward, grabbing Roger's arm. At this point I did not care if Thomas wanted to kill me still or not. I might even welcome it.

"Tell me...tell me you saw me here the whole evening...tell me that I never left this house to go anywhere. Tell me!

[Edited by Isolde on 02-13-2001 at 08:35 PM]

 

[Angelus]

Roger looked at Diane with a perplexed look and said, "You were here all night, I never saw you leave and I would probably know if you did because I would have felt you leave this place. Now, would someone please tell me what the hell is going on before I go nuts and walk out of this place screaming."

 

[Isolde]

Diane

"Stryfe...Stryfe is dead," I said as I sank down into a chair,"And they said I did it. I dont know what is going on. How can I be killing...or attempting to kill...people when I am miles away?"

I felt as if my world was going to collapse about me at any minute and I didnt know what to do about it. "I swear I never did but I am having these visions like I was there. Memories...perhaps. It's almost as if I am another person but still me."

I shook my head knowing nothing I said was making sense. "Damn it! Why do I have to be such a burden to those who take me in! My parents, Thomas and Stryfe all took me in and then paid dearly for it. It would have been better if Mother and Father had left me on the streets to die instead of offering me a home." I laughed bitterly then,"Of course it would not matter for I cant die can I? At least not that way."

 

[Angelus]

I began to move but before I could I heard Roger say, "What are you talking about. You couldn't have killed your family, for what I know of you then it would be an impossible thing to do as you loved your family and why would you want to kill them. You have been after Thomas for more than a hundred years because you thought that he had killed them and now you are telling yourself that you kiled them yourself. Will you listen to yourself because you sound more than a little nuts."

"I would have to agree with Roger. You didn't have it in your soul to kill your family or even Stryfe for that matter as you loved them both and couldn't have killed them. I hope that you are listening to what I am saying as I am telling you that you are a good person but whoever is killing the people that you love is out to drive you either mad or make someone kill you," I said as I leaned forward and put both of my arms on the table.

 

[Isolde]

Diane

I sat back and closed my eyes as both men talked to me. "God, I need a drink," I said,"Do you have any vodka?" Thomas nodded and went to get me a glass of the liquor. When he handed it to me I clasped it in my both hands gratefuly as I took a large gulp of it, letting the fire burn my throat and calm my shaking.

"Okay," I said finally,"Than lets look at this logically. I couldnt have been in any of the three places at the times that this happened but both Thomas and the people around Stryfe's house swears it was me on two occasions. And I have visions of what happened in each of the three cases-as if I was remembering what was happening...not as if I was watching someone else do it."

"This is beyond crazy but if it does not stop than I am going to literally go crazy. I cant take the visions and feelings anymore. I feel like I am being torn in two."